Audio-visual device-projecting machine



Aug. 6, 1963 w. WAGENSEIL AUDIO-VISUAL DEVICE-PROJECTING MACHINE 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 25, 1961 INVENTOR. M ILL/AM lM s/vss/z Aug. 6,1963 w. WAGENSEIL 3,099,935

AUDIO-VISUAL DEVICE-PROJECTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 23, 1961 3Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. W/L L mm 1444 eA/sm ATTORNEY Aug. 6, 1963 w.WAGENSEIL 3,099,935

AUDIO-VISUAL DEVICE-PROJECTING MACHIN E Filed Jan. 23, 1961 3Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR. W/u MM Mam/55m A TTOE/VE'Y United StatesPatent This invention relates to a machine for simultaneously 3 ,099,935Patented Aug. 6, 1963 "ice , transparency in color or black-and-white; atransparent reproducing the sound and projecting the picture of anaudio-visual device. The device upon which the present machine is basedis disclosed in my pending application Serial No. 36,968, filed June 17,1960, now US. Patent No. 3,083,485.

An object of the present invention is to provide a machine thatsuccessively feeds a series of hinge-connected audio-visual devices tosound-reproducing and picturepro ecting position. 2

Another object of the invention is to provide novel and improved meansfor releasing the devices for successive feed thereof and automaticallyarresting the feed to positlon in sound-reproducing andpicture-projecting position.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel, simple andimproved means for instituting the feed operation automatically at theend of the reproducing period.

A still further object of the invention is to provide noveldevice-engaging means to so hold the successive devices of ahinge-connected series thereof that the records of such devices areuniformly operatively positioned as are the transparencies thereof.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide, in a machine of thecharacter above referred to, simple and unproved means for automaticallyrestoring record pickup means, used in the sound-reproducing phase ofthe device, to initial playing position during feed of the machine fromone audio-visual device to the next device of a hingeconnected seriesthereof.

This invention also has for its objects to provide such means that arepositive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a workingposition and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture,relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novelcombinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear inthe course of the following description, and which is based on theaccompanying drawings. However, said drawings merely show, and thefollowing description merely describes, one embodiment of the presentinvention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts inthe several views.

FIG. 1 is a partly broken side elevational view of an audio-visualdevice-projecting machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partly broken face View of an audio-visual device as used inthe present machine, the view showing broken portions of adjacent andsimilar hinge-connected devices.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the machine shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is -a plan sectional view as taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary rear view showing the parts in the positionsthereof during feed of one audio-visual device to the next device.

With particular reference to FIG. 2, the audio-visual device 10, as usedin the hereinafter-described machine, comprises, generally, asound-reproducing element, here shown as a thin disc record having acentral aperture 12, a sound-recorded spiral groove 13, and anun-grooved margin 14; a picture-producing element 15, usually a member16 that physically connects the record 11 and the transparency so thesame have a fixed relationship; and flexible hinges 17 that connect aseries of devices 10. In this instance, the transparent member 16 isshown as an envelope of cellophane of other diaphanous material, thetransparency being fastened in any suitable way in the interior of theenvelope, and the record 11 is so disposed within the envelope as to befree to rotate on an axis around the aperture 12. The subject matter ofthe record 11 and the transparency are, of course, related. An opening18 in one or both sides of the envelope exposes a portion of the record11, such portion at least including the aperture 12 and parts of groove13 and margin 14. The envelope may be made of opaque material providingthe transparency is either exposed through an opening in both sides ofthe envelope or a transparent window is provided through which projectorlight may be passed. In practice, devices 10, as above described, areabout .017" thick although such thickness may vary. However, the thinnerthe devices, the more compact will be a series of such devicesfan-folded on their hinges.

The present reproducing and recording machine comprises, generally, amounting frame 20; a device-mounting and -feeding drum 21 carried bysaid frame 20; a member 22 transverse to the axis of rotation of saiddrum and above the latter and carried by the frame 20 on a pivot 45parallel to said drum axis, to gravitationally engage the top of thedrum; a prime mover in the form of an electric motor 23 carried by saidmember 22 preferably adjacent to the pivot 45 and having an output shaft24; means 25, driven by the shaft 24, to rotate a record 11 of a device10 disposed on the top of drum 21; means 26, carried by the member 22,to index the drum 21 and, thereby, to effect feed of the devices 10 fromone to the next device connected thereto, said means 26 so engaging thedrum during feed as to raise the member 22 on its pivot 45 to allow thedrum to index; means 27 to dampen the lowering movement of member 22after drum indexing; a pickup device 28 carried by member 22 andoperable through the opening 18 in a device 10 in position on top of thedrum to engage the grooves 13 of the record 11 in said device forelectrically reproducing the sound recorded by said grooves in the usualway; means 29 carried by the free end of member 22 and having the dualpurpose of lightly pressing down on the device on top of drum 21 andlifting the pickup from the record during lifting of said member 22during drum indexing; means 30, carried by frame 20, to return thepickup 28 to a position to engage the outward portion of a groove 13 inthe record of the next device 10 fed to reproducing position on drum 21;an optical system comprising condensing lens means 31 carried by themember 22 in superposed register with a transparency 15 in the device 10on the drum, and a focusing lens means 32 beneath said transparency;means 33 to adjust the focusing position of the lens means 32; means 34to provide projection light for said optical system; and a reflectingmirror 35 on which the image of transparency 15 is directed by suchlight and which reflects said image forwardly to a suitable screen. Theabove-described machine has a feed that is automatic from one device tothe next. Various means may be provided for actuating asolenoid-controlled means 36 to initiate operation of the drum-indexingmeans 26. In this instance, a contactor 37, carried by the pickup 28,engages a target plate 38 at or just before the pickup reaches itsinnermost position of groove 13. Such plate, by electrical connection incircuit with the solenoid 39 of means 36, causes energization of saidsolenoid and actuation of the means 36.

The frame 20 may be fastened within a suitable housing for the presentmachine and comprises a chassis on which the components of the machineare carried. Such electrical means as may be required to operate thereproducing means may be carried by the housing independently of thechassis. In this case, frame 20 is shown as a vertical member 40 thathas an upper forwardly bent portion 41 and a lower forwardly angularlybent portion 42, a horizontal axle 44 extending forwardly from themember 40, and the mentioned pivot 45 extending forwardly from the endof frame member 43.

The drum 21 is shown as having four similar sides 46, although adifferent number of sides may be used. Said sides are preferablytransparent and made of lucite, glass, or other such material, and areheld in assembly on longitudinally spaced plates 47 and 48, which arecentrally apertured for the axle 44 on which drum 21 is, therefore,freely revoluble.

Between said plates 47 and 48 there is disposed a rotational disc 49having a hub 50 rotational on the axle 44 independently of the drum. Theperipheral edge 51 of disc 49 extends into and slightly through openings52 provided in the drum sides 46. Forward of the disc 49 and preferablyaligned with the mounting plate 48, there are provided a set of conicalpivots 53, each being centered on one of the drum sides and extendingradially from axle 44.

By placing the first device of a hinge-connected series of such deviceson the pivot 53 that extends upwardly from the upper drum side 46, saidpivot will extend through the aperture 12 of the record 11 of saiddevice to hold the record for free rotation, as hereinbefore described.The longitudinal spacing of the disc 49 from the pivots 53 is such thatthe edge of said disc engages the under side of the record margin 14through the opening 18 of the envelope 16 in which the record isdisposed. It will be clear, as seen in FIG. 3, that attached to thedevice 10 disposed as above described, will depend along the oppositesides of the drum with the pivots 53 of the latter sides in theapertures 12 of the depending devices 10. Thus, each succeeding device10, during feed, is already empaled, at least partly, on the pivot 53 ofthe sides 46 along side of which said device depends. Therefore, suchother devicewill move to reproducing and projecting position properlyand accurately upon index movement of the drum.

The transparent drum sides 46, between the plate 47 and the adjacent endof the drum, are kept optically clear while the remainders of said sidesare preferably rendered opaque by paint or other means to reducereflection and/or light dissipation. Such a coating is shown at 54. Thetransparent sides 46 may be replaced by opaque plates in which casesuitable openings to be in register with the transparency in a device 10in position for reproducing and projecting, as above indicated.

At the mentioned transparent end of the drumthe rearward end-t-here areprovided, at the four corners, index extensions 55. The same are formedas angle plates 56 that extend rearward of the rear edge of, the drumand are adapted to be engaged by the means 26 to simultaneously causeindexing of the drum and raising of the member 22 on its pivot 45.

The member 22 is shown as a channel having a web 57 that is superimposedover the transparent portion of the side 46 of the drum that is at thetop. The pivot 45 of said member 22 is so positioned that said drum sideand channel web 57 mutually engage in a flatwise engagement, eachretaining the other against further movement until separation iseffected by lifting of the member 22 upwardly from such engagement. Whenso engaged, the end of envelope 16 of a device 10 that has thetransparency therein, and is disposed onthe top side of the drum, isclamped non-movably by the weight of member 22, as can be seen in FIG.1.

The pivot 45 extends through the flanges 58, and an opening 59 isprovided in web 57 in register with the are provided in said platestransparency 15 that is clamped by the channel. The output shaft 24 ofthe motor 23 is shown as extending through the rearward fiange of thechannel 22, as may be seen in FIG. 3.

The record-rotating means 25 is shown as a pulley 60, an endless belt 61connecting shaft 24 and said pulley to drive the latter at asubstantially slower speed than the speed of motor shaft 24, a shaft 62for said pulley and extending transversely and having bearing in thechannel flanges 58, and a record-driving wheel 63 on said shaft 62 anddisposed to rest upon the rim or margin 14 of a record 11 in a device 10that is engaged between the drum 21 and the member 22. Said wheel 63 isrubber-tired and, of course, operates through the opening 18 of theenvelope 16 of said device 10. FIGS. 1 and 4 show this drivingengagement and that the record is engaged between said wheel and the rim51 of disc 49.

The drum-indexing means 26 is shown as a pinion gear 64 on the shaft 62,a ring or internal gear 65 engaged with the pinion gear to be rotatedthereby, and an arbor plate 66 secured to the rearward face of therearward flange. In order that the record disc 11 may be rotated so thepickup device 28 may traverse the record groove 13 before indexingmovement of the drum may be instituted, the ring gear may be multilated,as at 67 (FIG. 5). When said mutilation is in register with the piniongear 64, as in FIG. 3, the ring gear remains stationary while shaft 62turns, as above described. The stationary position of the ring gear isretained by means of friction imposed thereon by a thin spring plate 68that is fastened to the channel flange 58, by means of bolts or screws69. Only by a slight rotational advance of the ring gear 65 from itsat-rest portion of FIG. 3, will the pinion gear 64 engage the teethv ofthe ring gear to rotate the latter. By providing the arbor plate 66 witha resilient mount, as by means of the rubber sleeves 70 interposedbetween the screws 69 and the plate 66, the teeth of said pinion andgear are prevented from jamming at the start of the indexing operation,since the ring gear may shift slightly, as permitted by said sleeves 70,to allow otherwise jammed gear teeth to fall into mesh. An index arm 71is shown as extending radially from the ring gear, the same describing aclockwise movement from its normal position of rest, as in FIGS. 3 and4, to index the drum when the teeth of the pinion and the ring gear arebrought into mesh by actuation of the solenoid-controlled means 36. Suchactuation will be later described.

Once the means 26 is set into operation, the index arm 71, after aboutan angular traverse of about 270, will effect a clockwise engagement,first with the horizontal angle plate 56 of the extension 55 that is atthe upper right of the drum 21 as viewed in FIG. 3, from the rear; then,as the movement of said arm 71 progresses, its end. will bear againstsaid horizontal plate, resulting in a slight upward movement of member22 on pivot 45. Almost simultaneously this arm will engage against thevertical plate 56 of said extension 55. Now, as the arm move mentcontinues clockwise, said arm indexes the drum in a counter-clockwisemovement on its axle 44, as can be seen in FIG. 5. Since the extension55 thus engaged moves in a rising arc, the plates of the same, throughthe arm 71, raise the member 22 until the arm 71 has moved past-adead-center position. It will be clear that the drum 21 is free of themember 22 and can complete its indexing movement as the member 22 lowersto reestablish flatwise engagement with the next device 10 on the newface 46 brought to the top position. When the mutilation 67 of the ringgear reaches the pinion 64, the movement of gear 65 will stop until themeans 36 reactuates the same to perform the next indexing movement ofthe drum.

The means 27 is shown as a dash pot device that slows lowering of themember 22 to obviate damage to the devices 10. In this case, an arm 72extending from the bent portion ,41 of the member 40 has pivotalconnection with the closed end of a fluid cylinder 73. The usual piston,with bypassing valves or ports, within said cylinder, is provided with astem 74 that is connected to member 22, as by an extension 75 of one ofthe screws 69. The damping action is such that the member 22 is loweredslowly as the arm 71 approaches its position of rest, as explained.

The pickup device 28 is shown as an arm 76 that, by a universalconnection 77, is connected to the front side of channel member 22adjacent to the pivot 45 of said member, and a pickup element 78 carriedby said arm 76 in position to engage the grooves 13 of the record disc11 of a device in the mentioned operative position. The details of thedevice 28 are generally conventional, it being essential only that arm76 be able to swing on its pivot 77 horizontally during reproduction ofthe recording on the record disc, and vertically on said pivot so thepickup device may be returned to initial position after reproduction ofa recording without marring of the recording grooves. Any suitable waymay be used for bringing current to the element 78, if electricalreproduction is used.

The means 29 has a two-fold purpose. The arm 79 thereof extendsforwardly beneath the free end of pickup arm 76 and serves to lift thelatter to raise the element 78 from the record during raising of themember 22 during drum indexing. The laterally directed extension 80 onthe forward end of arm 79 is designed to lightly press upon the device10 in operative position. Said extension bears against the top ofenvelope 16 to hold said device 10 lightly in place as the recordthereof is being turned.

The means 30 is shown as a slanting arm 81 that is carried by thementioned portion 41 of the frame \20 and is so positioned relative topickup arm 76 as to allow free traverse of said arm during reproductionof the record, but which engages said arm when the same is raised, asabove described, and earns the same back to initial position. Thus, whenthe member 22 is lowered onto the next device 10, the pickup element 78thereof will be in proper position to engage the start of a recordinggroove to reproduce the recording of said groove. It will be clear thatthe portion of arm 76 that is engaged by slanting arm 81 has atriangular movement-one leg of the movement being horizontal, thehypotenuse being caused by the cam action of arm 81, and the other legof the movement being vertical.

The condenser lens means 31 is shown as a set of condenser lenses 82that are retained in register with the opening 59 in the web 57 ofmember 22 by a channelshaped housing 83 fitted into member 22 betweenflanges 58 and over the web 57. A registering opening 84 in said housing83 is aligned with opening 59.

The focusing lens means 32 is shown as being carried by the member 40 ofthe frame 20. Said means comprises a bracket 85 that is engaged withmember 40 and has an arm 86 that carries a focusing lens 87 in opticalregister with the condensing lens means 31 and the transparency inoperative position on drum 21.

The means 33 is shown as a knob 88 on the end of a shaft 89 on which isprovided a friction roller 90 that has rolling engagement with member40. Said shaft 89 has bearing in bracket 85 and it will be clear thatrotation of knob 88 causes the roller 90 to track along member 40 and toraise and lower bracket 85 according to the direction of rotation ofknob 88. A light shield 91 on the bracket 85 may be provided, ifdesired.

The projection light for said optical system is provided by the means 34which is here shown as a bracket 92 that mounts a projection lamp bulb93 that is disposed above the condenser lens means to project the imageof the transparency 15 downwardly in the path 94. Bracket 92, also, maybe provided with a light shield 95.

The mirror 35 receives said image of the transparency 15 and is arrangedto reflect the same forwardly along the path 96 onto a screen to beviewed while the sound of the record 11 is being reproduced.

The means 36 for effecting initial advance or movement of the ring gear65 so that the pinion 64 may drive the same, is here shown as thementioned solenoid 39, the core 96 of which is normally projected by aspring 97, an arm 98 carried on pivot 45 and connected to the solenoidcore 96- to be moved thereby upon retraction of said core, and a secondarm 99 extending to a position adjacent the arm 71 in the at-restposition of the latter arm.

As can be seen from FIG. 3, the arm 99 is beneath and spaced from theend of arm 71. When the solenoid 39' is energized, the core thereof isretracted, causing the arm 99 to be raised, thereby engaging and raisingarm 71. Since shaft 62 is turning to drive the record 11, the teeth ofthe ring gear 65 will be brought into mesh with pinion 64 and theindexing movement of the machine will proceed, as above described.

In order that the operation of the machine to bring successive devices10' into reproducing and projecting position may be effected, somemeans, such as a note on the record, suitably amplified to effectenergization of solenoid 39, or closing of an electric circuit to thesolenoid 39 when the pickup arm 76 or anything carried thereby reaches apredetermined position, may be employed. In this case, the mentionedcontactor 37, in the form of a light, flexible wire connected to arm 76by a screw 100, extends forwardly to engage the mentioned target plate38, as indicated.

It will be clear that the devices 10 are successively moved to operativeposition in the manner above described, and that the movement isintermittent as controlled by the records or by the pickup arm.

If it is desired to advance the feed or return to devices alreadyoperated on, a notch 101 in the free end of one of the flanges 58 may beengaged by a suitable operating lever to cause the member 22 and thepickup arm 76 to be raised. This releases the drum 21 so it can beadvanced or retracted, as desired. Then, the member 22 may be releasedto lower onto the drum. Of course, the drum need not be moved if it isdesired only to play back a record already in operative position, sinceupon raising of member 22, the pickup arm will return to initialposition.

Heat dissipation of heat generated by bulb 93 may be effected by a fan102 carried by a bracket 103 from the member 22 and rotated by a drive194 taken off the motor shaft 24.

While the foregoing has illustrated and described what is nowcontemplated to be the best mode of carrying out the invention, theconstruction is, of course, subject to modification without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is not desiredto restrict the invention to the particular form of constructionillustrated and described, but to cover all modifications that may fallwithin the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to besecured by Letters Patent is:

l. A machine for successively projecting the image of the transparenciesand reproducing the sound of the records of a series of hinge-connectedaudio-visual elements, said machine comprising, in combination, an indexdrum having a plurality of flat sides, an axle mounting said drum forfree rotation thereof, a hinged member mounted on a pivot at one endthereof and parallel to said axle and having its other end disposed tohave flatwise engagement with a face of said drum to rest upon anaudio-visual element in operative position on said latter face, saidelement being provided with the transparency, pickup means carried bysaid hinged member in reproduci-ng engagement with the record of saidelement during the mentioned flatwise engagement of said member anddrum, means carried by said member to rotate said record, means drivenby the record-rotating means and carried by said hinged member to indexthe drum to move the next audio-visual element of said series tooperative position between the drum and the hinged member, and meansprovided on the drum and engaged by the drumindexing means to raise saidmember on its pivot away from the element in operative position duringindexing movement of the drum.

2. A machine according to claim 1 in which means is provided to retardthe lowering movement of said member during the final portion of thedrum-indexing movement.

3. A machine according to claim 1 in which means controlled by thepickup means institutes operation of the drum-indexing andmember-raising means.

4. A machine according to claim 1 in which is provided means carried bythe member to engage and raise the pickup means 01f the record duringraising movement of the member.

5. A machine according to claim 4 in which means is provided to returnthe pickup means to initial position preparatory to engaging the recordof the next audiovisual element in operative position on the drum.

6. A machine for successively projecting the image of the transparenciesand reproducing the sound of the records of a series of hinge-connectedaudio-visual elements, said machine comprising, in combination, an indexdrum having a plurality of flat sides, an axle mounting said drum forfree rotation thereof, a hinged member mounted on a pivot at one endthereof and parallel to said axle and having its other end disposed tohave flatwise engagement with a face of said drum to rest upon anaudio-visual element in operative position on said latter face, saidelement being provided with the transparency, the portion of the drumthat is in register with the transparency being adapted to pass light,means to provide projection illumination and directed through thetransparency, an optical system in the path of said illumination toproject the image of the transparency, pickup means carried by saidhinged member in reproducing engagement with the record of said elementduring the mentioned flatwise engagement of said member and drum, meanscarried by said member to rotate said record, means driven by therecord-rotating means and carried by said hinged member to 'ndex thedrum to move the next audio-visual element of said series to operativeposition between the drum and the hinged member, and means provided onthe drum and engaged by the drumindexing means to raise said member onits pivot away from the element in operative position during indexingmovement of the drum.

7. A machine according to claim 6 in which said optical system comprisesa condensing lens carried by the hinged member, a focusing lens disposedthe interior of the drum, and a mirror to reflect said image toward aviewing screen.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A MACHINE FOR SUCCESSIVELY PROJECTING THE IMAGE OF THE TRANSPARENCIESAND REPRODUCING THE SOUND OF THE RECORDS OF A SERIES OF HINGE-CONNECTEDAUDIO-VISUAL ELEMENTS, SAID MACHINE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, AN INDEXDRUM HAVING A PLURALITY OF FLAT SIDES, AN AXLE MOUNTING SAID DRUM FORFREE ROTATION THEREOF, A HINGED MEMBER MOUNTED ON A PIVOT AT ONE ENDTHEREOF AND PARALLEL TO SAID AXLE AND HAVING ITS OTHER END DISPOSED TOHAVE FLATWISE ENGAGEMENT WITH A FACE OF SAID DRUM TO REST UPON ANAUDIO-VISUAL ELEMENT IN OPERATIVE POSITION ON SAID LATTER FACE, SAIDELEMENT BEING PROVIDED WITH THE TRANSPARENCY, PICKUP MEANS CARRIED BYSAID HINGED MEMBER IN REPRODUCING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RECORD OF SAIDELEMENT DURING THE MENTIONED FLATWISE ENGAGEMENT OF SAID MEMBER ANDDRUM, MEANS CARRIED BY SAID MEMBER TO ROTATE SAID RECORD, MEANS DRIVENBY THE RECORD-ROTATING MEANS AND CARRIED BY SAID HINGED MEMBER TO INDEXTHE DRUM TO MOVE THE NEXT AUDIO-VISUAL ELEMENT OF SAID SERIES TOOPERATIVE POSITION BETWEEN THE DRUM AND THE HINGED MEMBER, AND MEANSPROVIDED ON THE DRUM AND ENGAGED BY THE DRUMINDEXING MEANS TO RAISE SAIDMEMBER ON ITS PIVOT AWAY FROM THE ELEMENT IN OPERATIVE POSITION DURINGINDEXING MOVEMENT OF THE DRUM.